Extra! Extra! Casting Call!

Is spending an entire Saturday worth it? Hmmmm.

Extra! Extra! Casting Call! Saturday Thoughts.

Scene:  HWMMS is in the closet looking for his outfit to wear after spending the last 10 minutes in bed singing songs about how he will survive the alien invasion and save all the puppies while I’m cursing the morning and hiding in bed and messaging our friend Heather to meet us 30 minutes later than originally planned.

HWMMS: Guess what tee-shirt came up in the rotation?

Me: (Mostly asleep…) Um, The Walken Dead?

HWMMS: Nope. I Pooped Today! Although your guess is a good one…I think I will wear that one.

Of course he will. I choose a green dress (but not a real green dress, that’s cruel) and my bloomers. Because dammit. I am a woman of a certain age who likes wearing bloomers.

ONWARD TO AKRON! (AFTER STOPPING AT TIM HORTON’S FOR XL COFFEE!)

We make it there around 9:20 am. A bit later than we wanted, but well, SATURDAY MORNING is for sleeping in. Also, there was a slight few minute detour behind many bicyclists doing the Ride for Roswell.

Lo! A parking space was available up front. We walked right in the school, headed right up to the desk where we were handed clipboards and a sheet of paper to fill out our info and stats (do people really know their hip size?) AND WE DIDN’T EVEN NEED THE PEN WE WERE TOLD TO BRING because we were there early enough that pens were available. I did use my own anyhow, I wanted to be one of the people who followed the rules.

After filling out the form, we stood in a small line. I mean maybe 10 people in front of us?

• HWMMS mentioned on his application under special skills that he was a blacksmith. (And said “hey, it worked for Jen when I used it on my online dating profile!)
• Heather mentioned that she owned many animals 227 rabbits, (give or take 210) reptiles and exotic birds.
• I didn’t list anything. Big mistake, HUGE. WHAT WAS I THINKING? Oh, wait, I wasn’t. What on earth would I put though? I still can’t think of anything clever. And I had created a “resume” so any extra information was included on that.

The man who accepted our applications wrote a number on a wipe-off board and told us to go stand by the wall for a photo. He asked HWMMS if he could work without his glasses, and if so, please take them off. He then asked me, if I was with HWMMS. (And I think he stapled our applications together when I said yes.) And then he totally engaged Heather in conversation about her animals asking what kind of bird and reptiles and then even asked her how long it took her to get to Akron from Springville SHEISTOTALLYGOINGTOGETANEXTRAPART!

AND THAT WAS IT. We walked out of the gym and into the lobby and took this photo. 20 minutes of our time? Maybe? We were in and out before the casting call even officially “started” at 10am. (Is that a good or bad thing also? Too early? Too eager? Who knows.)

All I could think of was…I WANTED AN ADVENTURE!

Honestly, I can’t imagine looking the “part” of an extra in a movie where EVERYTHING IS SILENT (have you met me?) A person of my physical means has no place in the Quiet Place World. PERHAPS as a townsperson eating an overstuffed omelette with her darling husband at a diner the morning BEFORE THE ALIEN MONSTERS INVADE? Perhaps. Anything is possible. But in general, I decided to give up my (first) Saturday morning (in a long long time where I didn’t have something planned or was in bed sick) to have an adventure to share and write about.

SO WE CREATED OUR OWN ADVENTURE

What to do in Akron, NY?

Well. Duh. OBVIOUSLY PERRY’S ICE CREAM is located there, time to get a photo in front of a giant ice cream cone in front of headquarters!

Or…the advertisement on the truck because NO GIANT ICE CREAM CONE EXISTS. This made me sad. Despite faking this happy face for the camera. (SEE WHAT A GOOD ACTRESS I AM!)

Next stop. Well, we did a drive-by. THE OCTAGON HOUSE! Because IT HAS 8 SIDES! Tis really called the Newstead Historical Society. It also was closed. Meh.

Um, how about the Kutter’s Cheese Factory Store? They have to be open, right? CHEESE CURDS FOR ALL!

HWMMS asked me to take this video. Of him doing a happy dance. While eating all the samples of cheese. And this is just one of the many reasons I love him.

We ended up buying a few bags of curds which didn’t last for the car ride home without somehow disappearing (one which was chive and was AMAAAAAAZING.) Also, a sampler of bacon cheeses and a few other wedges that HWMMS plans on hiding from me so I don’t devour it all before the weekend is over.

On the way out, HWMMS stopped and said “maybe I should get a tee-shirt?” Which is another of the many reasons that I love him because he wanted to represent and support the small cheese factory store.

“I CUT THE CHEESE!”

When the lady behind the counter showed us the backside, there was no question it was meant to be.

I think this might be a close #2 behind the “Watch it Wiggle, See if Jiggle” Boxer Shorts I brought home from my visit to the Jell-o Museum a few years ago.

After speed eating two bags of cheese curds HWMMS thought that stopping to surprise a friend at work would be a great idea. Not because it was lunch time but because our friend JUST HAPPENED to be working at the store in Akron that morning.

We know this not because we stalk our friend, but because she was in the Music Man with us and we thought she might want to come to the casting call…surprise, no casting call for her, but when in Akron…

Must stop to photograph as a part of the adventure!

I love this photo of Heather taking a picture of me taking a picture of us the most.

Next stop? Um. No plan. Dammit. We improvised and stopped at a very large yard sale.

.

Where I took this photo of a pile of naked not-really Barbie dolls. As one does.

And purchased a nice colorful winter hat and pair of partially sparkly gold flats!

Our next and final stop of the adventure—-the Antique Mall & Flea Market.

Heather and I played dress up. While HWMMS wandered, somewhere?

And then I bought these two items. A set of adorkable 70s rooster mugs, which I did not need but they will look wonderful in our kitchen. And this dish which has the poppy pattern that reminded me of a plate we had growing up as a child. Yes, that is the only reason. We owned a plate. (at least I think it was a plate, I’m still waiting on confirmation from my mom and brother) that had the same pattern. Nostalgia is a strong emotion when I have $7 in my pocket to burn. (The rooster cups were $3 and I had a $10. It was meant to be!)

END OF ADVENTURE

By now, it was afternoon. Maybe 1pm? And I either needed another XL Timmy Ho’s or a nice nap. Return to Weber Wonderland for the win.

The puppies were glad to have their parents home. They spent time digging holes and getting dirty noses before we went inside for a nap.

I have no idea when we might hear back from the casting call. Or should I say when HEATHER will hear back from the casting call. I have no idea how long the lines actually got during the day or if the people watching became most excellent. All I know is, we did it. And I’m so glad we did, because WE COULD HONESTLY HAVE A CHANCE TO BE AN EXTRA IN THE MOVIE A QUIET PLACE 2 and if this happens I would not only have to be QUIET on set but QUIET with all the secret knowledge I would have from being on the set that I wouldn’t be able to share on All Things Jennifer, so in hindsight…I’m VERY glad I went today so I have a story to share.  Even if the story wasn’t the one I expected it to be.